UCLA Anderson School of Management Receives Additional $2 Million from James Easton

Gift will Continue and Grow Technology Leadership Program

LOS ANGELES --UCLA Anderson School of Management Dean Judy Olian announced a second $2 million gift from James Easton, in addition to Mr. Easton's 2008 $2 million gift that was used to set up the Easton Technology Leadership Program. The ensuing gift will be used to continue and grow the Easton Technology Leadership Program, which focuses on the specific managerial and leadership needs of students with engineering and technology backgrounds and interests.

"The Easton Technology Leadership Program develops science, engineering and IT professionals into leaders of technical teams and organizations. No other business school has a program tailored to address this vital need. This immensely successful program would not have been possible without the extraordinary generosity of Jim Easton, whose business experiences and vision were essential in shaping the program," said Judy Olian, dean of UCLA Anderson School of Management. "The second gift enables us to extend the program's impact and scale. Without Jim, there would be no program."

The Easton Technology Leadership Programoffers innovative elective courses and case studies that prepare MBA graduates to succeed in diverse technical environments. The program draws heavily upon the expertise of faculty in operations and technology management, as well as upon seasoned industry professionals who bring their experiences into the classroom. Adjunct faculty with industry backgrounds, both teach in the program and assist in its design.

"UCLA has been a big part of my life since my time as an undergraduate, and John Anderson was a personal mentor of mine, so I saw UCLA Anderson as the perfect place to help tackle the problem of raising leaders who are as savvy about science and technology as they are about business and management," said Jim Easton.

"As we've started putting the pieces of the Easton Technology Leadership Program into place, we've realized even more how visionary Jim's gift was. The feedback we have received, from students, and from the many industry leaders who act as mentors or speakers in the program, has been encouraging," said Charles Corbett, professor for DOTM, and faculty director for Easton. "We're delighted that we can continue to build on the strong foundation that Jim helped us lay, and we look forward to continuing to grow the program."

Easton received his B.S. in engineering from UCLA in 1959. He is chairman and CEO of Jas. D. Easton, Inc., a privately owned manufacturer, marketer, and distributor of archery and other sports equipment, a member of UCLA Anderson's Board of Visitors since 1988 and a generous benefactor to both the school and the university. In recognition of his generosity, he was named one of the founding members of Entrepreneur's Hall at UCLA Anderson in 2005.

About UCLA Anderson School of Management

UCLA Anderson School of Management is among the leading business schools in the world. UCLA Anderson faculty members are globally renowned for their teaching excellence and research in advancing management thinking. Each year, UCLA Anderson provides a distinctive approach to management education to more than 1,800 students enrolled in its MBA, Fully-Employed MBA, Executive MBA, Global Executive MBA for Asia Pacific, Global Executive MBA for the Americas, Master of Financial Engineering, doctoral and executive education programs. Combining selective admissions, varied and innovative learning programs, and a world-wide network of 37,000 alumni, UCLA Anderson develops and prepares global leaders. Follow UCLA Anderson on Twitter at http://twitter.com/UCLAAnderson, or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/uclaanderson.